Steady rest



L. D. TYSON March 4, 1952 STEADY REST 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 1, 1943 INVENTOR.

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j lornez/ March 4, 1952 TYSON 2,587,929

STEADY REST Original Filed Sept. 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN ENTOR. [eVJ son.

March 4, 1952 L. D. TYSON 2,587,929

STEADY REST Original Filed Sept. 1, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet s 47 47 iiiii INVENTOR; [er 1 i. 7732 x:

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 STEADY REST .Levi. D. Tyson, Elkhart, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gisholt Machine Company,

"Madison, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin -Continuation of application Serial .No. 500,801, September 1, 1943. This application August .19, 1946, Serial No. 691,611

7 Claims. 1

rest which is more sturdy for use with higher J speed machining operations.

Another. object of thednvention is to provide a steady rest which has greater adjustability for .difierent diameters of work and which is more quickly and easily operated.

Another object is to provide a steady rest in .which the jaws may be morereadilymoved to and secured .in operative work-engaging position simultaneously.

Another object-is-to provide asteady restwhich .is more .eifectively supported against lateral move- .ment fromthe tool pressures on the work.

Another objectis to provide asteady restwhich has its jawsupporting and operating mechanism readily accessiblejfor adjustment and repair.

Another object is to provide a steady rest in which :the jaws and work are protected against metal chips and foreign particles lodgingbetween the same.

Further objectsand advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate. an embodiment of the invention:

Figure l-is aside elevation of a part. of a lathe showing the steady rest mounted thereon and supporting a workpiece;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the lathe taken on the line 22 of Fig. .1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical. sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary .section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of'Fig. 1 without the workpiece.

'The bed I of the lathe has a headstock vI I containing a rotary spindle I2 adapted to carry the workpiece I3. A clamp or chuck I4 is provided to secure the workpiece l3 axially .ofthe spindle l2.

' The/bed I0 of the lathe has theways I extending parallel to the axis of spindle I2 and which support the steadyrest [6. The ways may extend .rearwardly to support a tailstockor turre slide,.not.shown.

v The steady rest I6 comprises the body portion 2 I! mounted on the ways I5 having a central depending transverse "flange I8 with a hole therein for receiving a rod 19 which is secured thereto by a nut 20. A cylinder 2| has a piston formoving the rod l9 longitudinally to effect longitudinal movement of the steady rest to position the same on the ways I5, the cylinder 2I and rod I9 being parallel to the Ways I5.

The body portion H of the steady rest is circular with the axisof :the opening therethrough generally coinciding with the axis of spindle I2.

A cap member 22 is provided on top of the circular. body portion I1 and is apertured in a direction parallel to the axis of the body portion and to ways I5. A bushing 23 is secured within the aperture in cap .22 and is adapted to receive the pilot bar 24 carried bythe movable tailstock or turret not shown) e The pilot bar 24 has asliding fit in bushing23 and serves to cooperate with the ways I5 and more securely hold the steady rest against lateral pressures.

The cap member 22 is secured to the body portion I l by means of bolts 25.

The body I! of the steady rest has an annular recess in its side. facing spindle I2, the recess being concentric with the axis of the body and having an outer cylindrical wall 26 and an inner cylindrical wall 21.

A cam ring 28 is mounted for limited rotational movement in the reces and is confined against lateral movement by the walls 26 and 21.

Ahandle 29 is secured to the ring '28 and extends radially outward through a slot 30 in body I! to facilitate manual movement of the ring 28.

A cover plate 3| is secured to body I! by bolts 32 over the recess containing ring 28 to hold the latter in place.

"The ring 28 is secured against rotational movement at any position of adjustment by means of a set screw '33 having a handle 34 and. threaded radially through the body I 1.

The body I! has its central bore 35 fitted with a bushing 36 which has a flared opening 31. facing width and correlated in contour to provide a working portion for each slot eccentric to the body IT.

A cam rfollower in the form of a roller '40 rides in each slot 39 andzis moved radially in and out by the corresponding rotational movement of ring 128.

. for crossheads 4 I.

Each cam roller 46 is rotationally mounted on the back side of a separate crosshead 4| which is of T shape having flanges 42 fitting into corresponding recesses in body H, the crossheads being disposed for radial movement relative to the body I1 and in separate slots opening at the periphery of the body.

Studs 43 constitute stub axles for the rollers 40, and each stud is secured in place in a corresponding crosshead 4| by means of a set screw 44.

A jaw 45 having a work contact roller 48 at its inner end is adjustably secured to the face of each crosshead 4| in a manner providing for radial adjustment of the jaw. For this purpose each jaw has a radial slot 41 therethrough for receiving the shank of a bolt 48 which is threadedinto the corresponding crosshead 4|.

A central tongue 49, on the back side of each jaw 45 rides in a. corresponding groove in the face of the corresponding crosshead 4| and serves to interlock the jaw and crosshead and prevent displacementof the jaw by possible pivotal action on bolt 48.

A cover plate 58 is secured on the face of body IT by screws and extends circumferentially of the work I3 across the inner ends of the slots The jaws extend through correspondin radial slots in the cover plate 58 and are spaced equally about the circumference 9 of the same.

Each crosshead 4| has a flange 52 at its outer .end and which overhangs the end of the corresponding jaw 45 to limit the outward adjustment of the jaw relative to the crosshead. A threaded 4 stud 53 is threaded through each flange 52 and into engagement with the outer end of the corresponding jaw 45 to provide an adjustable stop for the jaw limiting its outward position relative to its crosshead 4|.

The jaw rollers 46 are adapted to oppose each other in engaging the work I3 and are mounted for free rotation upon corresponding short shafts 54 secured in the bifurcated inner end of the corresponding jaws by means of set screws 55.

The engagement between the jaw rollers 46 and ,the work I3 is kept free from metal chips and foreign matter that might injure the rollers and the work by means of a flexible sealing washer 56 held in place in a recess in the cover plate by a ring 51. The seal '56 has an internal diameter approximating the diameter of the work I3 and is adapted to seal thereagainst sufiiciently to prevent ingress of foreign material to the rollers A seal strip 58 is secured in a recess on the outer circumference of plate 50 across the face of each jaw 45 to seal against the jaw and prevent ingress of chips between the jaw and the, plate by reason of radial movement of the jaws.

The seal strips 58 are secured in place by corresponding metal plates 59 fastened by bolts 65.

The steady rest has a piloting member 6| disposed on the side of the steady rest facing spindle I2 and which has its base 62 bridging the base of the steady rest and secured thereto by bolts A pilot block '64 is supported on base 62 by means of a downwardly'extending shank 65 disposed in a corresponding hole in the base. A radial screw "66. rides in a vertical groove in the shank 65 to secure the shank against turning in base 62. A threaded stud 61 is threaded downwardly through block 64 to engage the top of base 62' in expanded positionv by the cam ring 28 having been turned to its limit in a clockwise direction,

and'assuming that the work I3 has been chucked to spindle I2 and the steady rest I6 moved longitudinally toward the spindle I2 by means of cylinder 2|, the operator merely pulls down on lever 29, turning the cam ring 28 in a counterclockwise direction in which the rollers 40 are moved radially inward until rollers 46 of jaws 45 engage the work I3. Then the operator screws clamp 33 into engagement with ring 28 to secure the latter against turning.

As the tailstock or tool turret moves up into position, the cylindrical pilot bar 24 slides into the bushing 23 in the cap 22 to additionally secure the steady rest against lateral displacement and prevent chattering.

.During machining of the work I3 and while the latter is turning with spindle I2, the jaws 45 and rollers 46 are fixed, radially, and serve as rigid supports for the work, opposing tool pressures and the like.

The cam slots 39 in ring 28 are constructed to move the jaws 45 both in and out. For this purpose the operative outer cam surface of each slot ison a sweeping curve somewhat eccentric to the axis of the work and of spindle I2 and body I1. At the outermost end of this outer cam surface each slot turns abruptly outwardly to provide an operative inner cam surface that engages the corresponding roller 40 to positively move the sameradially outward to space the rollers 4| from the work.

The steady rest has its jaws mounted-on an open face where they can be removed or adjusted readily. The jaws may be individually adjusted and thereafter they are operated simultaneously by cam ring 28 for repeated'machining operations upon successive workpieces of like dimensions.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A steady rest for use with lathes and the like, comprising a generally circular body member having a base adapted to be mounted for longitudinal movement on the bed of the lathe with said body member axially aligned with the lathe spindle, a ring member carried by said body member coaxial therewith and disposed for limited rotation relative thereto, a plurality of radially movable steady rest jaws mounted in slideways on said body member and having rollers at their inner ends for engaging a work piece rotatably carried by the lathe spindle, cam means interlocking said ring member and jaws to effect movement of the latter radially inward i when said ring is moved circumferentially in one direction and radially outward when said ring is moved circumferentially in the opposite direction', and a closure member on the face'of said body member adapted to seal against the rotary workpiece around the circumference thereof and protect the working parts of the steady rest against injury from chips.

2. A steady rest for use with lathes and the like, comprising a body slidable on ways extending parallel to the axis of the lathe spindle, radially operable jaws carried by said body and adapted to rigidly support a workpiece against lateral displacement and having roller engagement with the workpiece to provide for free rotation of the latter therein, and a closure member secured to one face of the body on the side thereof toward the cutting operations of the lathe and adapted to seal against the work to protect said jaws and the work against the lodgement of metal chips and the like therebetween.

3. A steady rest comprising an annular body portion, a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion, a plurality of crossheads mounted in said body portion to have radial movement therein, said ring member and said crossheads having cooperating camming portions whereby rotation of said ring member will communicate radial movement to said crossheads, and an annular flexible member fixed coaxially relative to said annular body portion adapted to engage a piece of work to stop ingress of foreign material into said steady rest.

4. A steady rest comprising an annular body portion, a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion, a plurality of crossheads mounted in said body portion to have radial movement therein, said ring member and said crossheads having cooperating camming portions whereby rotation of said ring member will communicate radial movement to said crossheads, a plurality of work-engaging members, mounting means for each. of said work-engaging members, each of said crossheads having one of said mounting means adjustably carried thereby, and an annular flexible member fixed coaxially relative to said annular body portion adapted to engage a piece of work to stop ingress of foreign material into said steady rest.

5. A steady rest comprising an annular body portion, a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion, a, plurality of crossheads mounted in said body portion to have radial movement therein, said ring member and said crossheads having cooperating camming portions whereby rotation of said ring member will communicate radial movement to said crossheads, a plurality of work-engaging members, mounting means for each of said work-engaging members, each of said crossheads having one of said mounting means adjustably carried thereby, an annular flexible member fixed coaxially relative to said annular body portion adapted to engage a piece of work to stop ingress of foreign material into said steady rest, and other flexible means fixed relative to said body portion and adapted to slidably engage each of said mounting means for stopping access of foreign material to the interior of said steady rest past said mounting means.

6. A steady rest comprising an annular body portion, a, ring member rotatably carried by said body portion, a plurality of radially spaced crossheads carried by said body portion, said crossheads and said ring member having cooperating camming portions whereby rotation of said ring member will communicate radial movement to said crossheads, work-engaging rollers, means for mounting said rollers, each of said mounting means having adjustable sliding relationship with a corresponding crosshead, and an annular member carried by said body portion, said annular member being provided with slots for receiving said mounting means and having annular flexible means adapted to engage a piece of work in said steady rest and to stop access of foreign material along said piece of work to the interior of said steady rest.

7. A steady rest comprising an annular body portion, a ring member rotatably carried by said body portion, a plurality of radially spaced crossheads carried by said body portion, said crossheads and said ring member having cooperating camming portions whereby rotation of said ring member will communicate radial movement to said crossheads, Work-engaging rollers, means for mounting said rollers, each of said mounting means having adjustable sliding relationship with a corresponding crosshead, and an annular member carried by said body portion, said annular member being provided with slots for re-- ceiving said mounting means and having annular flexible means adapted to engage a piece of work in said steady rest and to stop access of foreign material along said piece of work to the interior of said steady rest, said annular member being provided with other flexible members adapted to engage said mounting means to prevent access of. foreign material to the interior of said steady rest between said annular member and said mounting means.

LEVI D. TYSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 334,538 Muncaster Jan. 19, 1886 562,271 Blum June 16, 1896 734,808 Brown July 28, 1903 944,630 McCullough Dec. 28, 1909 1,140,208 'Taylor May 18, 1915 1,191,220 Peterson July 18, 1916 1,228,570 Kupp June 5, 1917 1,401,131 Blackburn Dec. 27, 1921 1,432,626 Schurr Oct. 17, 1922 1,432,753 Hill Oct. 24, 1922 1,506,035 Valtman Aug, 26, 1924 1,770,048 Sundstrand July 8, 1930 1,862,516 Powell June 7, 1932 2,012,826 Montgomery Aug. 27, 1935 2,016,482 Brown Oct. 8, 1935 2,016,843 Tautz Oct. 8, 1935 

